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"Living" Board Games!

I began the discussion here about investigating the concept of "living books" and jumping from there to musing about "living board games". Here are my husband's insights on (our version of) the definition of a "Living" Board Game. (Scroll to the bottom of the page to find more related posts and links!)

How to tell if you are playing an excellent family board game ...

Quality family games are engaging for multiple age groups. What does "engaging" look like?

You are so involved that you really want to win, not just finish the game.

You enjoy the gameplay so much that you'd play again, even if you don't win. (In family board gaming - typically more than two players - statistics suggest that you will probably lose more often than you win, so games that are only fun if you win won't have much staying-power.)

You are drawn into the gameplay such that even when it is not your turn, it is interesting to watch what other players are doing and what choices they make. (This is especially enhanced by game mechanics that result in some sort of interactions between players - i.e. the decisions of other players affect you and your choices.)

The experience of a great board game makes family memories and stories. You are still thinking about it the next day. The play-by-play is enjoyable, even on the re-telling.

Quality family games have excellent gameplay.

They are built around engaging mechanics or an engaging theme that is supported (or at least not detracted from) by the mechanics.

They invite analysis ("thinking") but in an organically entertaining way.

Many of the best family games on the market today do not involve "player elimination" - in other words, all players play to the end of the game. Winning isn't determined by "last man standing" but by points or other progress tracked throughout the game. This avoids the scenario where those who fall behind not only don't win but spend a great deal of "game time" sitting and watching other people finish the game without them.

Usually they include some kind of catch-up mechanic, reducing the likelihood of a "runaway winner". When the person in the lead is more easily able to make progress, the gap between the winner and the losers grows rapidly and those not winning become increasingly disinterested in playing. Some games include special end-game scoring or bonuses so that it isn't really clear until the last minute who will finally triumph!

These days, excellent family board games have high-quality components.

Board game manufacturers have learned that the tactile experience of playing a board game is very important. Part of the enjoyment of board games is the physical movement of aesthetically pleasing bits and cubes and the handling of sturdy cards and dice.

Sturdy boards, thicker cards and solid - perhaps even wooden - bits and player pieces make for long-lasting board game life and playing time! Family versions of games often have larger cards, larger tiles and larger, sturdier player pieces.